Page 82 of Feral Gods
Another tremor, stronger than previous ones, disrupts our conversation. Distant shouting echoes through the passages—enemy forces penetrating deeper than anticipated despite Thane's delaying tactics.
"There's no time for alternatives," Kaia states, her voice steady despite the gravity of our situation. "I'll provide whatever sacrifice is necessary."
"No." The word emerges more forcefully than intended, surprising us both with its vehemence. "I refuse to accept that outcome."
Her expression softens, one hand leaving the obelisk to touch my face with gentle understanding. "Zephyr, this isn't your decision to make."
"Nor is it a decision to make without full information," I counter, already turning back to the inscriptions with renewed determination. "There must be nuance here—magical requirements often contain conditions and exceptions."
As I frantically scan the ancient text, a previously overlooked glyph sequence catches my attention—a metaphysical qualifier appended to the sacrifice requirement. My breath catches as I translate its meaning.
"Life essence, yes," I murmur, hope kindling as understanding clarifies. "But not necessarily through death. The inscription refers to 'khaverit'—willingly offered essence. Permanent contribution of life force, not its complete expenditure."
"Meaning?" Kaia prompts.
"One could survive the sacrifice, but would be forever altered." I straighten, mind racing through implications. "Diminished in some aspects, perhaps, but not destroyed."
Ravik's voice suddenly fills our mental link, tense with urgency.Engaged with enemy advance force. Thane separated from main group. Proceed with activation immediately.
No more time for deliberation. No more time for searching ancient texts for safer alternatives. We must act now or lose everything.
"I'll make the sacrifice," I state, decision crystallizing with perfect clarity. "My life force to guide the wildspont energy."
"Zephyr, no?—"
"It must be me." I take her hands in mine, willing her to understand. "Your blood connection to Morwen is essential for redirecting the curse. Ravik's strength will be needed to defend you during the final phase. Thane already risks everything in his delaying action. I am the logical choice."
"There's nothing logical about sacrifice," she argues, tears gathering in her dark eyes. "Nothing logical about losing you."
"Not losing," I correct gently. "Transforming. And is that not what we've sought all along? Transformation rather than destruction?"
Another, more violent tremor interrupts us, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of battle drawing nearer. Our time has run out.
"Proceed with the activation sequence," I instruct, positioning myself between Kaia and the obelisk's primary face. "Channel your energy through me, allowing my life force to guide and stabilize the wildspont flow."
"And if it kills you?" she demands, tears now streaming freely.
"Then I die protecting what matters most." I brush away her tears with a gentle talon. "A better end than I ever anticipated during our long imprisonment."
Before she can object further, I press the activation sequence on the obelisk. The crystal focus flares with brilliant light as wildspont energy begins flowing through the ancient structure. The chamber rumbles with awakening power, dust and small stones shaking loose from the ceiling as magical currents surge through long-dormant channels.
"Now, Kaia," I urge, taking her hands and placing them against the obelisk's primary interface. "Channel your power through me into the nexus."
Reluctantly, she complies, her magenta energy flowing from her fingertips into my silver-gray form. The sensation is exquisite—her vibrant life force mingling with my more constrained magical signature, creating harmonies I never imagined possible during my centuries of scholarly isolation.
As our combined power flows into the nexus, I feel the wildspont energy respond—ancient, primal force older than civilization itself, raw creative-destructive potential that powers Protheka's most extraordinary phenomena. It surges through the obelisk, seeking direction, seeking purpose.
Seeking sacrifice.
I open myself fully to its demand, offering my life essence as the inscription required—not my death, but something perhaps equally significant: my perfect memory, the accumulated knowledge of centuries, the scholarly identity I've cherished since before our transformation.
The wildspont energy accepts my offering with frightening eagerness, drawing deeply from my core. Pain unlike anything I've experienced floods my consciousness—not physical agony but something more fundamental, as if my very self is being unraveled strand by strand.
Dimly, I hear Kaia crying my name, feel her trying to break our connection. I hold firm, forcing my consciousness to remain present despite the overwhelming drain. The sacrifice must be completed for the system to function properly. For her to remain safe.
Through our mental link, I sense Ravik's alarm as he detects my life force diminishing. His nexus point activates in response, adding his powerful energy signature to our combined flow. The wildspont channels brighten further, ancient pathways illuminating throughout the mountain as the system awakens fully in centuries.
Hold fast,Ravik's voice commands through our link.Thane approaches the final nexus. Almost complete.
